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This study posits that a deconstructive socio-historical reading of Ruth will elicit aspects of
ancient Israelite women’s agency which can then be used to inspire greater socio-economic
agency amongst poor rural women today. While it is difficult to establish the date of Ruth
with any precision, the study argues that the book was first written to legitimise David’s
kingship and then used as a polemic against Ezra-Nehemiah’s intermarriage policies some
550 years later. Accordingly, it discusses the socio-economic conditions pertaining to both
periods, namely the early monarchic and the early post-exilic periods.
The study shows that Israel began as a loosely organized tribal confederation, which lacked a
structured political system, in the pre-monarchic period, and that far-reaching changes ensued
upon the institution of the monarchy. During the monarchic period, the political structure of
the land was increasingly centralised around the king. Despite the political changes, and
variances within the mode of production, the family remained the basic economic production
unit throughout Israel’s history. Similarly, Israelite society remained patriarchal in nature,
and women derived their identity and economic wellbeing from the men in their lives.
Women did not have any economic rights per se; their rights, if any, were secured and
safeguarded by the men to whom they belonged. Furthermore, land was the most important
economic commodity but Israelite law deprived the majority of women of the opportunity to
own land. These factors disenfranchised and impoverished women, particularly childless
widows.
Within this context, Naomi and Ruth devised strategies which subverted the oppressive
patriarchal structures of their time and overcame their socio-economic distress. The principles
underlying their actions may be used to encourage poor rural women to develop greater
socio-economic agency today.